Diversity of plant-endophytic root bacteria associations and their importance for plant health, soil nutrient transformations and sustainable soil ecosystems

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The objective of my research program is to understand beneficial interactions between plants and microorganisms. Plant-microbe interactions are close associations or symbioses that typically benefit both the plant and the microbial partner (e.g., the plant is protected from stress - the microbe acquires nutrients in a protected habitat). Unique and specific populations of soil microorganisms influence the health, growth and competitiveness of plants in native and managed ecosystems. These specific plant-microbe associations can be utilized to benefit society in a number of ways. There is, for example, a great opportunity of using rhizobacteria, and specifically endophytic root bacteria, to enhance production of plant biomass on marginal soils (which could be used for biofuels production) or as plant-bacterial systems for remediation of environmental contaminants.